Fire extinguisher for dry-cleaning apparatus, etc.



Oct. 14, 1930. D. MAPES 1,778,034

FIRE EXTINGUISHEH FOR DRY CLEANING APPARATUS, ETC

Filed May 1, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet l I INVENTOR Oct. 14, 1930. n. MAPES1,778,034

FIRE EXTINGUISHER FOR DRY CLEANING APPARATUS, ETC

Filed May 1. 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Oct. 14, 1930 UNITED STATESvPATENT OFFICE DANIEL IAPES, OF MAIA RONECK, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR '10WALTER KIIDDE & OOH- PANY, INC., OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OFNEW YORK FIRE GUISHER FOR DRY-CLEANING APPARATUS, ETC.

Application filed Kay 1, 1928. Serial No. 274,179.

whereby the cover of the tan ,if it be open,

shall be closed instantly, and de ices whereby a fire extinguishingmedium, such, for example, as carbonic acid gas, shall be admittedinstantly to the tank, not only when the lid is open, if it has beenopened, but also when the lid, if it has been closed, is

thrown open or partly open by an explosion within the tank. The improveddevices are applicable not only to dry cleaning apparatus, in connectionwith which they are illustrated and explained herein, but also inconnection with other a paratus in which fire sometimes occurs wit 'n aspace which may be closed or open, such, for example, as the casing ofan electric transformer. In

accordance with the invention there is aplease of the fire extinguishinmedium which is under pressure and there y brings about the closing ofthe lid or cover of the casing, if it has been opened, and thesimultaneous admission of the fire extinguishing gas to the interior ofthe casing. The same device may also be actuated by the movement of alid or cover of the housing by an internal explosion to effect theadmission of the fire extinguishingmedium in the interior of the casing.

The invention will be explained more fully hereinafter with reference tothe accompanying drawings in which it is illustrated and in which:

Figure 1 isa view of the complete apparatus in elevation, as seen fromthe left-hand in Figure 2, with the lid open. 7

Figure 2 is a view of the same as seen in elevation from the right-handin Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a view, on a larger scale, of the controlling device as seenfrom above, with some parts in horizontal section and some parts brokenaway.

Figure 4 is a view of the same in side elevation.

Figure 5 is a view in transverse section on the plane indicated by thebroken line 55 of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a view in longitudinal section. Figure 7 is a view inelevation, partly in section, of a form of fluid controlling valve, inconnection with which the improved devices may be employed although thedetails of construction of the valve form no part of the presentinvention.

Figure 8 is a view of the same in sectional elevation.

Figure 9 is a view in section on the irregular plane indicated by thebroken line 9-9 u construction, as indicated at a, and may be providedwith a lid or cover a, hinged to the top of the casing, as at a, andadapted to stand in its open position, as indicated in Figures 1 and 2.At 6 is shown a container for the fire extinguishing medium tobeamployed, such as carbonic acid gas. This is shown as having at b avalve or valve mechanism by which the fire extin ishing medium ispermitted to flow from tfi: containerv b or other source of supply whennecessity requires it, the fire extinguishing medium being admitted tothe interior of the casing a through a pipe 6 while the valve mechamsmis controlled through a cord or wire or cable 0, within a tube a.

The connector 0 is held normally under tension which is relieved on theoutbreak of fire as hereinafter described. The valve mechanism, by whichthe delivery of the fire extinguishing medium, under ressure, from thecontainer 6 is controlled fibrms no part,

in detail, of the present invention, but to enable the operation of theinvention to be understood, the particular form of valve mechanism whichhas been chosen for illustration in Figures 7, 8 and 9, will bedescribed briefly. When the tension on the connector 0 is relieved arelease pin 0 is moved downward sufiiciently to release a spring-pressedlever 0 which in turn releases a double toggle c and thereby releases apiston c and permits the pressure within the container 5 to rupture afrangible disc 0 theretofore held against the structure by the piston 0The disc 0 is interposed between the container 6 and the connection 12to the delivery pipe 6 The valve mechanism thus described issubstantially the same in construction and operation as that more fullyshown and described in an application of the present inventor Serial No.336,144, filed January 30, 1929.

The pressure of the fire extinguishing'medium in the pipe 6 acts upon aplunger 03, in a cylinder 6 to which the pipe b 'is connected, anddrives the plunger d forward against the lid or cover a, causing thesame to close. As the plunger moves forward it I may pass a port 6 inthe side of the cylinder b and the fire extinguishing medium he sopermitted to flow through a channel 6 and a nozzle 6'', although thenozzle is so small, as compared with the plunger, that sufficientpressure would be exerted on the plunger even if thenozzle were inconstant communication with the pipe b Within the housing e of thecontrolling device the medium is deflected by a plate 6 and distributedwithin the casing a by distributor vanes e which may be formed by thelower wall of the housing 6 and extended downward through an opening inthe top of the tank a so that the fire extinguishing medium shall beintroduced into the tank and distributed therein.

The connector 0 is secured at its end to one end of a fusible link f,the other end of which engages an arm g of a two-armed lever g, g, whichmay be mounted in the distributing vanes e. the arm 9 being engagednormally by an explosion lid or cover 6 which may be hinged on thehousing 6, as at 6".

When fire breaks out'in the apparatus a, the link 7 fuses and releasesthe connector 0. If an explosion occurs within the apparatus theexplosion lid 6 is thrown up, disengaging itself from the arm 9 of thetwo-armed lever g, and permitting the lever to swing and release thelink 7, relieving the tension on the connector 0 without any delay whichmay be incident to the rise of temperature within the apparatussufiicient to fuse the link it. It will be understood that the explosionlid 6 is hinged to the housing 6, as at 0, so that, in the event of anexplosion, the lid is thrown upward and backward upon its hinge and thatin this movement its forward or righthand end is pulled from the arm gof the two-armed lever g, 9 whereby the lever is permitted to swing onits axis and release the link f.

It will be observed that the housing 6 forms an expansion chamber,which, following the restricted nozzle 6, produces a quiet discharge ofthe fire extinguishing medium at a low velocity, as is desirable forefiective action. Furthermore the baflie b in the expansion chamber willproduce a properly distributed discharge even if the lid or cover forany reason should fail to be closed.

It will'be understood that various changes in details of constructionand arrangement can be made to suit the nature of the apparatus to beprotected and different conditions of use and that the invention,therefore, is not restricted to the particular construction shown anddescribed herein, except aspointed out in the claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a fire extinguishing apparatus, the combination of a sourceof'fire extinguishing medium under pressure, a valve mechanism tocontrol the delivery of such fire extinguishing medium from the sourceof supply, means to conduct the fire extinguishing medium to the placeof use, a connector connected to the valve mechanism at one-end and 9normally under tension, a fusible link to which the connector isconnected at the other end, a two-armed lever with one arm of which thelink is engaged, and an explosion lid normally engaging the other arm ofsaid lever to hold the same againstmovement, the valve mechanismoperating to release the fire extinguishing medium when the tension onthe connector is relieved.

2. In afire extinguishing apparatus, the combination of a source of fireextinguishing medium under pressure, a valve mechanlsm associated withsuch source to control the demeans to conduct the fire extinguishingmedium from said port and deliver it within said casing.

This specification signed this 26th day of April, A. D. 1928.

I DANIEL MAPES.

